What and how to feed goldfish?

Many people associate beautiful aquariums with goldfish, and for aspiring aquarists, the first experience is most often associated with these beautiful and lush creatures. It is believed that goldfish are the most unpretentious of all, but this is not entirely true. Only with proper and balanced nutrition will they be healthy and live the maximum period.

Aquarium inhabitants of this type are distinguished by good eyesight and hearing, developed organs of smell, taste, touch. Thanks to these features, the fish easily find food as soon as it enters the field of perception. The features of the gills allow pets to hunt for food in the silt. All inedible elements are discarded.

Goldfish do not have a stomach in the usual sense. Inside is the intestine with a mucous membrane, which is engaged in the digestion of food. Its volumes are small, so you need to feed the pets regularly, several times a day and in small portions.

Goldfish need in a balanced diet in order to develop and grow properly. With proper care, they can live in the aquarium for more than 10 years, but it all depends on the specific species. It is important to feed the ward with proteins, minerals, vitamins, fiber and carbohydrates. Dry food is usually used. However, the fish should be fed in a variety of ways so that they do not give up on boring foods.

Aquarium fish are less active than their wild counterparts. That's why it is worth monitoring the diet to prevent overeating. By the way, it is goldfish are prone to eating excessive amounts of food.

Fish are in great need of vitamins... One of the most important is vitamin A - it is thanks to him that goldfish have such a beautiful and rich color. If the scales become lighter, pale or cloudy, you need to urgently replenish the supply of vitamins.

There are many specialized foods for goldfish and natural feeding options. For proper development it is necessary to periodically replace one method with another. You can feed your goldfish with the following types of food.

This type of food is high in protein. Before serving food to fish, soak it in aquarium water for 10 minutes.

It is considered the most versatile option. There is quite a lot of protein in a quality feed. The flakes should have a varied composition - only in this way the fish will receive the required amount of nutrients.

It can be both plant and animal. Purchased at major pet stores. Defrost small portions and serve to fish. Re-freezing is strictly prohibited. The advantage of such a food is that it is nutritious, but at the same time it is devoid of pathogens.

Periodically, you can also use such feed as usual. earthworms, brine shrimp, daphnia.

Food of this kind enriches the body with protein, and you can buy it at almost any pet store. Many owners enjoy watching the fish hunt for prey.

Peas, carrots, and spinach are great for goldfish. Algae are considered an alternative. Vegetables must be soaked in boiling water before being sent to the aquarium - it is much easier for fish to eat soft foods.

Regular meals can be varied with delicacies. Sometimes it is worth giving the goldfish bread, cucumber slices, watermelons, or oranges. Other options for treats:

• boiled rice;
• softened bread;
• fodder bloodworm;
• shrimp in brine without shell;
• a variety of leafy greens;
• corn grains;
• peeled grapes.

It is better if one person in the family is responsible for feeding the goldfish. Otherwise, you should get some kind of container for measuring portions. Goldfish are always hungry, but eat a little food at a time. This is due to the fact that the surplus of food is processed into slags.

It is often not worth feeding the fish, 3 times a day is enough... One feeding should contain the optimal amount of food so that the fish eat everything and leave nothing behind. If pets have appeared recently, then it is worth giving as much food as fits between two fingers.

If the schedule does not allow for so many feedings, then you can reduce them to two. It is important to understand that the fish needs food, the weight of which is 3% of its body weight. The same amount of food should be given. It is not necessary to pour in more in the morning so that the fish eat in the afternoon. This will lead to contamination of the aquarium water and overeating.

Keeping goldfish at home is not as easy as it might seem at first glance.

Feeding requires special attention from the owner. Better to use quality and proven feed from specialized stores.

• Goldfish eat absolutely everything and do not know when to stop. You should be careful about portion sizes so that no food remains. In just 1 night, food debris can poison the water in an aquarium and kill the inhabitants.
• It is necessary to feed the pets at the same time every day. This will provide comfort to both the fish and the owner. The likelihood of overfeeding or underfeeding is reduced.
• Set up a feeding area in that part of the aquarium that where there is no vegetation.
• Remove food debris from the water after 5-10 minutes. If the inhabitants of the aquarium belong to the slow species (telescope or celestial eye), then you can wait 15 minutes.
• Overeating, especially systematic overeating, always leads to the appearance of various diseases. Swimming disorders are common. Experienced aquarists advise to arrange peculiar fasting days for goldfish several times a month at the same intervals. On this day, leave the pets without food at all.
• Goldfish need more carbohydrates than proteins. For a balanced diet, it is best to use commercial food that is specifically designed for this type of aquarium dweller. Such nutrition will provide all the necessary vitamins that will maintain the high decorative effect of the scales.
• In some cases, goldfish may start to eat plants in the aquarium. The reason is their constant hunger. This can be avoided by choosing algae with tough leaves. An excellent solution would be planting egg-pods, arrowheads, vallisneria. It is better to place the roots not in the ground, but in a special pot, since the inhabitants of the aquarium are periodically engaged in excavations. If the fish get to the roots, the plants will die.
• It is important to clean your aquarium regularly. We are talking about a complete replacement of water and washing the walls, bottom, and decorations. This way you can be sure that uneaten food does not poison the inhabitants.

For information on how to feed goldfish, see below.